Carnival UK sales and customer service director Giles Hawke is leaving the company in November to take up a new role within the cruise sector.
The high profile director was with Carnival for 10 years.
Industry insiders believe his new role could be with Viking, which is due to launch its new ocean cruises to the UK market later this year.
Hawkes said he could not reveal where he was going to but said he was "hugely excited" about the new role, which is a "great opportunity".
He also said he was sad to be leaving Carnival where he worked with some "incredible and inspirational people and learned a huge amount".
Hawkes said his departure would give others the chance to develop their careers further within the business.
In the immediate term Chris Truscott (head of sales), Tony Roberts (head of distribution support), Julie Warne (head of customer contact centre) and Nick Burrows (head of customer services) will report into Gerard Tempest.
